Garden debris collection device

ABSTRACT

This is the Garden Debris Collection Device. It allows one person to fill a large plastic bag, unassisted, even in windy conditions. It consists of a large cylinder or other suitable shape into which a bag with a larger diameter than the cylinder is inserted and fastened about the rim. The bag inside the cylinder is filled with debris. The cylinder and bag are then lifted allowing the debris to settle. The now empty cylinder sits on the bag&#39;s bottom which has been expanded by the debris. Repeat until the bag is full. The Garden Debris Collection Device is fundamentally different from other bag filling devices. The collection bag itself controls the volume of material contained, not a device inserted into the bag, nor a device surrounding the bag. Garden Debris Collection Device controls the bag and allows it to be filled and ready to secure by conventional means.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The Garden Debris Collection Device, also referred to as theEasy-Bagger, is the subject of Provisional Patent Application No.60/942,947, with a filing date of Jun. 8, 2007.

The invention is a Garden Debris Collection Device. It is ingenious yetvery simple. It is designed to relieve the challenges involved for oneuser bagging leaves, clippings or other garden debris. The Garden DebrisCollection Device controls the bag for the user, holding the bag openand supporting itself and the unfilled upper portion of the bag erectthroughout the filling process, leaving hands free to gather and depositdebris.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Of the many gardening chores performed, the raking and disposal offallen tree leaves and other garden debris is among the most necessaryand the most despised. In performing this task one typically corrals thedebris in a pile or breaks clippings or branches into smaller piecesready for disposal. Such work is physically exerting and time consumingand can take several hours leaving one extremely fatigued when it comesto the final task of disposal. Many people dispose of the collecteddebris by placing it into large plastic trash bags. However the plasticbag is difficult to control. It cannot support itself and tends to fallclosed, leaving one with the challenge of trying to maintain an open bagwhile simultaneously trying to place debris inside. While another personcan help hold the bag open, such help is not always available. A commontrashcan may be used to support the bag, but it is extremely difficultto remove a full bag from a trash can and the bag is often torn in theprocess. In addition, the trash can greatly confine the volume of alarger trash bag and does not allow the bag to fill completely.Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can bag yard wastein conventional plastic bags easily, working alone, without thedifficulties described above. The development of the Garden DebrisCollection Device fulfills this need.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Large plastic bags suitable for the deposit and disposal of common yarddebris such as leaves, lawn clippings and other yard waste are typicallyavailable at home centers, hardware stores and other retail outlets.These bags are quite effective at retaining garden waste for disposalbut the challenge for the user lies in filling them to capacity. Thelight weight and flexibility that render plastic debris so suitable forwaste retention and disposal also make them difficult to fill by asingle user, particularly in windy conditions.

Many devices have been developed with the intention of assisting theuser with the filling of large plastic debris bags and these have beenfound wanting. Among them are:

-   -   Devices that only hold open the mouth of a bag requiring the        user to hold the mouth at some height above the ground so that        debris can be deposited requiring the use of the user's hands to        both hold the bag and fill it.    -   Devices that scoop debris which are inefficient, difficult to        fill to capacity and require some degree of physical fitness for        the user. These devices are also difficult to use with uneven        material such as shrubbery clippings.    -   Devices that require a frame assembly are often wobbly,        difficult to assemble, and often tear the bag.    -   Devices into which a bag is inserted are inefficient as the        volume of debris held by the bag is defined by the size of the        device, not the volume of the bag. The bags are often difficult        to remove and, once the bag is removed, the user is left with        the task of completing the filling operation without assistance.    -   Devices inserted into the bag—the volume here again is        determined by size of the device, not the volume of the bag and        again these are often difficult to remove and, once the bag is        removed, the user is left with the task of completing the        filling operation without assistance.    -   Devices that are ill sized for the task. For example devices so        tall that they need outside support to complete the filling        operation because of their excessive height. These devices also        operate poorly on uneven services such as the uneven base        offered by clipped shrubbery remains.    -   Devices that are ill equipped for the task, that fail to provide        for adequate fastening of the bag to the upper rim in windy        situations or other robust uses.

None of the above offers a completely workable solution for the singleuser attempting to control and fill a large plastic debris bag alone,particularly in windy conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Garden Debris Collection Device is a very simple device to use. TheGarden Debris Collection Device allows one person to fill a largeplastic garbage bag, unassisted, even in windy conditions. In itsprimary embodiment it consists of a large cylinder roughly the size ofthe upper third of a medium sized trash receptacle into which a debrisbag with a larger diameter than the ring is inserted and fastened aboutthe upper rim of the device. The bag inside the ring is filled withdebris. The ring and bag are then lifted allowing the debris to settle,expanding the bottle of the debris bag. The now empty ring sits on thebag's expanded bottom. The user repeats until the bag is full. TheGarden Debris Collection Device is designed to relieve the challengesinvolved for one user bagging leaves, clippings or other garden debris.The Garden Debris Collection Device holds the bag open and supportsitself and the unfilled upper portion of the bag erect throughout thefilling process, leaving hands free to gather and deposit debris.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. A: the Garden Debris Collection Device, front view, atop a fulldebris bag.

FIG. B: the Collection Device in elevation.

FIG. C: is a plan view.

FIG. D: is a section detail of the sidewall.

FIG. E: is the rim notch elevation detail.

FIG. F: represents a rim notch plan detail.

FIG. G: shows a number of alternative shapes for the Garden DebrisCollection Device.

FIG. H: demonstrates a number of methods of fastening the bag to theupper rim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As demonstrated in Figure A the preferred embodiment of the GardenDebris Collection Device, (8), is sized at about one quarter to onethird the size of a full debris collection bag, (9), so that it will sitserviceably on a base of debris, even if the base is uneven, supportedsolely by that base. The Garden Debris Collection Device is acting as asupport for and controller of, the upper portion of an approximately 40to 50 gallon debris bag, (9), with the uppermost edge of the bag, (10),folded over the upper rim of the device but unfastened in thisdepiction.

While the exact dimensions will vary per model with the size of thedebris bag or plastic liner being used, in its preferred embodiment theGarden Debris Collection Device, as depicted in Figure B and Figure C,consists of a cylindrical shape with an average size of approximately 11to 13 inches tall and having an upper rim of approximately 22 inches indiameter. The bottom of the cylinder would taper slightly inward with anapproximate diameter of 18 inches and having an approximate capacity of12 to 15 US gallons. If made of an inexpensive, durable material such asa medium density plastic, it weighs approximately two lbs.

The upper rim of the preferred embodiment Figures B, C, D, and E (1) isfolded back and reinforced, (2), in much the same manner as aconventional trash can. A number of friction grooves or retaining slots,Figures E, F, (4) (5), are molded and or cut into the upper rim throughwhich portions of the upper edge of the debris bag may be gathered andwedged in lieu of mechanical fasteners. The bottom of these slotsfeatures a kidney shaped thickening for reinforcement (6). This upperrim also serves as a carrying handle and, along with a ridge molded intothe preferred embodiment at approximately two inches below the upperrim, Figures B, D, E, (3), facilitates the retention of other debris bagfasteners such as an elastic band or a drawstring or a friction strap.The ridge can also be used to facilitate and control the height of anumber of devices stacked for shipping or storage. The lower rim FiguresB, D, (7), of the preferred embodiment is thickened for definition andstrength.

Other workable shapes of the embodiment, Figure G, are shown in plan andinclude a triangle, G.i, an octagon, G.ii, a square or rectangle, G.iii,or a pentagon, G.iv. Alternative shapes for the device such as thesemight be desirable for different manufacturing techniques, forfacilitating shipping and storage or for marketing purposes. Theseshapes would, of course, be roughly ‘cylinder like’ in theirpresentation, with the bottom rim dimension slightly smaller than theupper and of similar dimensions as those of the preferred embodiment.

Figures H.i through H.iv demonstrates a number of methods of fasteningthe bag to the upper rim of the preferred embodiment. Beginning withFigure A as a reference, Figure H.i, shows the debris bag folded overthe upper rim and wedged into rim notches (4), as discussed in Figure C,(4). At Figure H.ii a cinched drawstring (13) is used to wedge the bagbetween the upper rim and the molded reinforcing ring introduced inFigures b, D and E, detail (3). Figure H, iii demonstrates the use of aflexible cord (14) to hold the bag in place. In robust conditions,commonly available spring clips (15) might be used as show in FigureH.iv.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

The Garden Debris Collection Device is a very simple device to use. TheGarden Debris Collection Device allows one person to fill a largeplastic garbage bag, unassisted, even in windy conditions. To use thedevice, the user first drops the bag through the Garden DebrisCollection Device and fastens the uppermost edge of the bag about thecircumference of the upper rim of the device employing any one of themethods detailed above. The Garden Debris Collection Device is nowsitting with the bag puddled under it. Leaves or debris are thendeposited by hand, rake or shovel just as if the user was putting theminto a short garbage receptacle. Each time the portion of the bag thatis in the Garden Debris Collection Device fills, the Garden DebrisCollection Device is lifted and the collected debris expands, fillingthe bottom of the bag and forming a base on which the Garden DebrisCollection Device rests. The user continues filling and lifting untilthe bag reaches any degree of desired fullness. The Garden DebrisCollection Device is removed, the bag is closed and fastened by commonmeans and the user inserts another bag and begins again.

Conclusions

The Garden Debris Collection Device is a very simple device to use andprovides an ideal solution to the challenges faced bagging gardendebris, even in unfavorable conditions. The Garden Debris CollectionDevice allows one person to fill a large plastic garbage bag,unassisted, even in windy conditions by controlling the uppermostportion of the bag and holding it in position for filling to any desiredcapacity. It requires no particular skill or athleticism on the part ofthe user. The Garden Debris Collection Device is stable and requires nosupport other than the base of debris on which it rests and it workswith many different types of debris including leaves, lawn clippings andawkwardly shaped things such as shrubbery and tree clippings. The GardenDebris Collection Device, in its preferred embodiment, is lightweight,requires virtually no maintenance and is easy to store. It can be usedwith standard plastic or bio degradable bags. Re-usable bags of variousmaterials may also be used. Bagger, in its one piece form, can be verysimple and inexpensive to manufacture and it may be manufactured in avariety of materials and shapes.

1. The garden debris collection device works according to the followingsteps: the user drops the bag through the Garden Debris CollectionDevice and the top edge of the bag is clipped to the Garden DebrisCollection Device using three or four simple spring clips, or a nylonfriction strap, a bungee cord or friction grooves molded into thetopmost rim of the Garden Debris Collection Device. The Garden DebrisCollection Device is now sitting with the bag puddled under it. Leavesor debris are then deposited, just as if the user was putting them intoa squat garbage receptacle. Each time the portion of the bag that is inthe Garden Debris Collection Device fills, the Garden Debris CollectionDevice is lifted and the collected debris expands, filling the bottom ofthe bag and forming a base on which the Garden Debris Collection Device,which remains fastened to the top of the bag, rests. The process isrepeated until the debris bag is full.